The Game Engine Oddysee

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Cube developers get access to a wide-range 3D game engine -- the same one used for Munch's Oddysee.

By IGN Staff

Nintendo of America announced a partnership with company Numerical Design Ltd. today, by which the graphics company would supply its appraised 3D game engine to interested Gamecube developers. The deal brings NDL's NetImmerse 3D engine, as well as plug-in software and optimization tools to the table, enabling studios to immediately jump into production on next-generation Nintendo software.

"NDL's NetImmerse technology allows developers to rapidly create, port and optimize software for Nintendo Gamecube," said Ramin Ravanpey, Nintendo's director of software development support*. "Our new system was designed with developers in mind, and we are pleased to add NetImmerse to the growing suite of powerful tools available to our developers."

The NetImmerse 3D engine has already been licensed by more than 30 development houses creating software for PS2 and Xbox, according to NDL president John Austin. Some of the offerings already utilizing the tools include Oddworld Inhabitant's recently Xbox-ized Munch's Oddysee, as well as the PC title Prince of Persia 3D.

"The higher-level interface offered by NetImmerse will enable developers to quickly create new titles. We have optimized the engine to take full advantage of the power of the Nintendo Gamecube system," said John Austin, NDL's president. "Nintendo's selection of NetImmerse illustrates that NDL's game engine is a recognized standard for multi-platform game development."

NetImmerse has received some critical acclaim from the development community because of the many features it supports as a generalized API. Included in the list is everything from particle systems to skinned characters, dynamic collision detection, 3D sound, lighting, multi-texturing, transparencies, and more. It also integrates a set of plug-ins that work together with major 3D software such as 3D Studio Max and Maya -- both standard among game companies like Rare, Retro Studios, and Factor 5.

What does it all boil down to? An advanced, intuitive 3D game engine and set of tools for interested Gamecube developers -- a package that could eliminate six months or more off the creation process, NDL president John Austin told IGNcube. And what that ultimately means is that NetImmerse licensees could theoretically focus the time and effort saved on game content, rather than fooling around with the intricacies of engine design.

Interested Gamecube developers and readers would do well to check out NDL's website for further information by clicking right here.

* Ramin Ravanpey, confirmed as Nintendo's director of software development support in the release above, seems to have filled Jim Merrick's former position. Merrick previously headed up the development support division at NOA.